When reading with children, inevitably they will come across a word they do not know. Do not simply say the word. This will only help you get through the book faster, and will not help the child learn how to read better. Instead, have the child use two pointer fingers to bracket the word, and then identify the sounds he knows. Help him use his knowledge of phonics to learn the new word.
Teach Children How to Sound Out a Word
When teaching children how to sound out a word, there are a variety of questions you should ask to prompt them. Teach them to attempt a word using the following clues:
- What sound does the word start with?
- What does it end with?
- Can you sound the word out with that much information?
- What does this part sound like?
If your child uses the wrong sound, help by correcting that sound, and have them follow your lead to sound the word out. For example: the word CLOCK. What sound does it start with? /KL/ what sound does it end with? /K/ what sound is in the middle? /O/ (make sure they use the short /o/, not the long /o/.) Now say the whole word while running one pointer finger along under the words as they make each sound: CLOCK.
Tips for Sounding out Longer Words
Break longer words into pieces by covering up part of the word. Instead of bracketing the word PANCAKE bracket PAN, sound it out and then bracket CAKE and sound it out. Then put the two together: PANCAKE. Once you have sounded out the word, re-read the sentence in order to not lose the meaning of the word in context.
Using Context to Learn a New Word
Another strategy to teach children how to use is context. Do the other words on the page help you have any idea what the word could be? Look for clues on the page or in the pictures to figure out the word. If the story is about a little boy getting ready for bed, using the other ideas in the story, the pictures on the page and the child’s own knowledge of a bedtime routine to help him figure out the word TOOTHBRUSH, for example.
There may be times in which you will need to simply tell the child what the word is, but this should not be your first response. Use common sense and pay attention to the cues the child gives you. Increasing frustration will be the biggest reason to tell them the word. This frustration may come in the form of anger, increased distractibility, or increased fidgeting. Knowing a child’s normal level of focus and ability to sit still will help you know when frustration is setting in. As you work with the child and slowly help him improve his reading, he will become more and more confident in his abilities and will not become frustrated as quickly.
Learn more tips about teaching reading including tips on improving reading comprehension and reading fluency.
Jennifer Wagaman - Jennifer is a mother of 2 and has both public, private and administrative experience in the education field.
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